How to explain T2 diabetes to children and teens?

Hello, as your children are older , I would just tell them all that you know and you could Google it and all of you have a look with questions and answers

My granddaughter is 5 and we are both type 1, but a few weeks ago SHE asked ME if I was type 1 or type 2? I asked her what she thought I was? and I could see her mind whirring away and she was working it out ( we both even have the same glucose meter) and then she said " Type 1" I thought 'that's my girl' .Kids are smart cookies, good luck.

Kids are very resilient and much stronger than we think they are .
Any curiousity and questions answer as openly and honestly as possible .

They will know more this way and style .
Plus they will feel more reassurred and confident in you too .

It when you try to hide things from them they always know/sense
this .

Let them test their blood sugar levels too .
This way they can see the differences also .

I did this with my grandaughter and after she was happy to
leave me to it !
Accepted that her body was different to mine kind of thing .
They can "see" the evidence for themselves this way .

You could also use any booklets or leaflets that are available
at hospitals or diabetic clinics too let them read ?
Maybe ask if they want to attend a clinic supporting you ?

Hope some of these ideas/suggestions can help .

Children often have no symptoms of type 2 diabetes before they are diagnosed because their blood sugar level has been rising so slowly. As a result, a child may have diabetes for several years before being diagnosed.

When children do have symptoms, the most common include:

Slight increase in the frequency of urination.
Slight increase in thirst.
Other possible symptoms include:

Increased tiredness.
Nausea.
Blurred vision.
Frequent infections and slow-healing wounds or sores.
Weight loss.
Type 2 Diabetes in Children